Book of Revelation Chapter 6 The Victorious Christ

Book of Revelation: Chapter 6 The Victorious Christ: The First Six Seals

Revelation 6: 1 “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see. ’”

Scroll/Book— ”Destiny of the Church” • Only the Lamb is worthy to open the sealed book. • John sees the Lamb open the first seal of the scroll with “seven seals. ” • Four corners of the earth—four winds of the earth—God’s judgment going out into the world. • “Come and See”—a thundering voice enabling John to observe the proceeding.

Revelation 6: 2 “And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. ”

First Seal— ”White Horse and Rider” • “Seal of the living God” • Equipped with a bow – No one escapes (Psalm 45: 3 -5) • Crown of victory – “Stephanos” (2: 10; 3: 11) • Went out conquering • White—holy (purity) • Conquered through God’s word/gospel

Revelation 6: 3, 4 “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come and see. ’ Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. ”

Second Seal— ”Red Horse and Rider” • “Fiery red” • Red—the color of fire and blood • Power given for its rider to take peace away from the earth • He was given a “great sword. ” • People (governments) would kill one another. • Conflict with those who had the gospel message

Revelation 6: 5 “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see. ’ So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. ”

Revelation 6: 6 “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine. ’”

Third Seal— ”Black Horse and Rider” • • Black—the color of mourning and grief “Pair of scales” in the hand of the rider “Denarius” - a full day’s wages “Oil and Wine” in abundance “Black” is a sign of hunger Economic discrimination—trade guilds Conditions in which Christians would live because of their persecution

Third Seal— ”Black Horse and Rider” • This follows the rider of the “red horse”— bloodshed. • Pressure to conform would be brought on Christians. • They would be prevented from selling or buying. • They would undergo famine, peril, and shortages. • All brought to bear because of their

Revelation 6: 7 “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see. ’”

Revelation 6: 8 “So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. ”

Fourth Seal— ”Pale Horse and Rider” • “Ashen” (pale) horse • Rider is “Death” acting by way of a sword. • “Hades” followed him—death slays and Hades reaps. • “Ashen, ” the color of death • The One breaking the seal gave “them” (death and hades) authority. • A “fourth of the earth. ” Limited to only a portion—not complete judgment

Fourth Seal— ”Pale Horse and Rider” • Many Christians would be killed during this great tribulation. • Righteous retribution poured out on the ungodly—the innocent also suffer! • Unite the people of God and bring them closer to Him • Hades always follows death. • Death caused by sword, hunger, death, and the beasts of the earth

Revelation 6: 9 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. ”

Revelation 6: 10 “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? ’”

Revelation 6: 11 “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. ”

Fifth Seal— ”Souls Under the Alter” • The martyrs for truth—bodies asleep in the grave – Ecclesiastes 12: 7 • Souls of those saints “under the altar” – Ezekiel 41: 22 • Blood cries out for righteous vindication – Genesis 4: 10 • “Slain because of the word of God” • “Testimony they had maintained”

Fifth Seal— ”Souls Under the Alter” • Cry to God—for His goodness and reliability • To judge and avenge their blood • Not for revenge but for justice! • Men receive time to repent, but… • Wanted to know “how much longer” God would be longsuffering to those hurting His children?

Fifth Seal— ”Souls Under the Alter” • Answer to their cry: – Each is given a white robe – “Rest for a little while longer” – “Until” the persecution is complete – Death is not the end! – Crown of righteousness and victory – Rest from their labors (14: 13) – Honored because their faith has passed the test!

Revelation 6: 12 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. ”

Revelation 6: 13, 14 “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. ”

Revelation 6: 15 “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. ”

Revelation 6: 16, 17 “and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? ”

Sixth Seal— ”Announcement of Judgment” • No one is hurt in vs. 15, 16—yet! • Announcement of judgment to come is vividly portrayed. • “Wrath of the Lamb” • No one will be able to stand against God’s righteous judgment! • “Judgment language”

Sixth Seal— ”Announcement of Judgment” • Vision of John’s judgment can be seen in the Old Testament on other judgments: – Isaiah 34: 4—”sky spilt” (Edom) – Isaiah 13: 10—”Sun dark” (Babylon) – Zephaniah 1: 14, 15—(Judah) – Joel 2: 10—(Judah/Jerusalem) – Micah 1: 3 -6—mountains (Samaria/Jerusalem) – Jeremiah 4: 23 -26—(Judah) – Isaiah 2: 10 -21—(Judah/Jerusalem)

Sixth Seal— ”Announcement of Judgment” • This seal reveals what is ahead. • A judgment, which comes upon the ungodly, for it’s the Lamb’s wrath • The mighty society and civil structures which oppose God’s people are set for destruction • Who will be able to stand? • What will happen to God’s people? • Answers lie ahead of us…